Friday, February 24, 2017

TOP STORY >> GREEN FLAG 17-04: Simulations for real world situations

By Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 34th Combat Training Squadron executed Green Flag Little Rock 17-04 from Feb. 9 through Feb. 19 one of Air Mobility Command’s largest exercises, where a variety of real scenario-based routines were executed.

Team Little Rock partnered with multiple units within Air Mobility Command for training simulations staged at Little Rock Air Force Base and Alexandria, La.

“Since GFLR is not driven by a set training syllabus, each exercise is tailored to each individual unit’s requirements,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Brown, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “No two exercises are the same and that helps the mobility enterprise by continuing to challenge their warfighting skills while providing real-world experiences with partners they may not be able to get with home-station training.”

Approximately 4,300 personnel played a role in GFLR. In addition to Little Rock Air Force Base, Airmen from five other U.S. Air Force bases contributed in the exercise. Other GFLR players included the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the British Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“Developing aircrews and all support personnel to operate more effectively with our allies is one of the things we look forward to when we participate in Green Flag,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Gerald Fraser, 436th Transport Squadron deputy commanding officer.

Not only do GFLR players receive more tactical training, they gain experience operating with different service members.

“The U.S. Air Force service members learn how to integrate better,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Brian O’Bach, combined exercise control center director. “The U.S. Army gets to see airlift and how it affects the theatre and joint training.”

All participants in Green Flag receive realistic and tactical-level training to both better support local and global mobility operations.

The 34th Combat Training Squadron worked closely with the Royal Canadian Air Force during Green Flag Little Rock 17-04 Feb. 9-Feb. 17, while staged at Little Rock Air Force Base and Alexandria, La.

GFLR, one of Air Mobility Command’s largest rotational exercises, is an opportunity for U.S. forces to collaborate with coalition forces. In this iteration, the RCAF participated with two C-130Js and approximately 70 personnel.

Similar to U.S. Air Force, RCAF aircrews underwent tactical-training such as re-tasking to execute on-call resupply airdrops; search and rescue operations; and survival, evasion, resistance and escape scenarios.

“I’m looking forward to seeing our younger personnel return with more experience in different and challenging roles,” Fraser said.

The 436th TS conducts joint training with their allies three-to-four times per year. This experience enables the RCAF to develop opportunities to integrate better with their coalition partners.

Although GFLR provides essential tactical-level training, the experience of working with international partners is also vital to the theater.

“Our coalition partners are crucial to the overall success of contingency operations around the world,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Brown, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “The participation of our international partners in GFLR provides each nation a broader perspective on the capabilities and limitations we each bring to the theater.”